Project: From Zero to Global UX: Building a Scalable Design Organization
Project Duration: 2021-Present
Company: Janus Henderson Investors

Problem

• No centralized UX team or practice
• Inconsistent design standards across regions and channels
• Limited user research and testing
• Fragmented tools and workflows
• UX viewed as a service, not a strategic partner

Approach

• Team formation: Hired and scaled a global UX team across regions
• Process design: Established a formal UX workflow, engagement model, and SLA
• Design system: Created and evolved a comprehensive design system and digital style guide
• Tooling transformation: Migrated the organization to Figma, consolidating fragmented tools into a single platform
• Research foundation: Introduced user testing and built a structured UX research methodology
• Stakeholder alignment: Led UX education sessions and positioned UX as a strategic partner

Impact

• Established a scalable global UX practice from the ground up
• Improved consistency and efficiency through a centralized design system
• Enabled faster delivery and reduced redundant design work
• Shifted UX perception from executional to strategic
• Built strong cross-functional alignment across product, engineering, and marketing

Leadership

This work required more than design; it required organizational change. I led through influence, education, and system thinking, building trust across stakeholders and creating a foundation that continues to scale today.